The work on new medical colleges at Anantnag, Baramulla, Rajouri, Doda and Kathua was also discussed in the meeting and Principal Secretary directed the executing agency to speed up the work as funds to the tune of Rs 505 crore for all the five new medical colleges stands released.

Srinagar: A high level committee today reviewed the progress of work on AIIMS and five new medical colleges in Jammu and Kashmir, an official spokesman said here on Monday evening.

He said Principal Secretary Health and Medical Education Department, Atal Dulloo today chaired the maiden meeting of High-Level Committee which was also joined by Divisional Commissioner Jammu through video conferencing.

The meeting was informed that the land measuring 1886 kanals and 5 marals (235.75 acres) at Awantipora in district Pulwama in Kashmir and 1954 kanals and 6 marlas (244.25 acres) at Vijaypur in Samba in Jammu stands transferred and handed over to the CPWD.

On the occasion the chair was informed that the balance amount of Rs 62 crore compensation amount as demanded by DC Pulwama will be released shortly by the finance department.

The officials assured the Principal Secretary that the arrangement of water supply and work on approach roads on both the AIIMS’ is going on smoothly.

The Divisional Commissioner Jammu informed the meeting that all the nomadic families who were putting up at AIIMS site in Jammu have been shifted to newly identified sites as per new rehabilitation plan.

CPWD officials also informed that the work on the boundary walls at both the sites is also going on smoothly.

The work on new medical colleges at Anantnag, Baramulla, Rajouri, Doda and Kathua was also discussed in the meeting and Principal Secretary directed the executing agency to speed up the work as funds to the tune of Rs 505 crore for all the five new medical colleges stands released.

He also directed the concerned to finalize makeshift arrangements and renovation of existing buildings identified to accommodate gallery type lecture halls, dissection hall, library, bio-chemistry lab, physiology and anatomy lab so that classes for first batch of MBBS are started well in time from June 2019.

The executing agency responsible to carry out the construction of medical colleges at Anantnag, Baramulla and Doda informed the chair that all the colleges will be ready by December 2018 while the executing agencies involved in construction of medical colleges in Rajouri and Kathua assured that the work will be completed well in time.

Regarding up gradation of existing district hospitals, the Principal Secretary directed the executing agencies to take up construction works immediately on existing terms and conditions to avoid delay in execution of work.

MD J&K Medical Supplies Corporation informed the chair that he has already initiated the process of procuring of machinery and equipment as per the requisitions from principals of GMC Srinagar and Jammu required during first year of classes in New Medical colleges.

Focusing on hiring of manpower the Principal Secretary directed the principals to immediately engage the manpower both gazetted and non gazetted.

The Chairman SSRB and representative of Public Service Commission (PSC) were asked to expedite recruitment process so that permanent manpower is in place.